The Rooms of the Tremont House

A spacious and convenient Hotel, in a central and healthy situation, had been considered, for many years previous to the erection of Tremont House, a most desirable addition to the number of the public edifices of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House, in 1818, no hotel had been built in this city on a scale of equal extent with that structure, and none corresponding to the expectations and wants of the numerous visiters of the Metropolis of New England; and the unfortunate experience of those who had previously engaged in similar enterprises was sufficient to deter any individual from undertaking a work of so much labor, cost, and hazard.

A spacious and convenient hotel, in a central and healthy location, had been thought for many years before the building of Tremont House a most desirable addition to the public buildings of Boston. Since the destruction of the old Exchange Coffee House in 1818,1 no hotel had been built in this city on a scale as large as that building. None met the expectations and wants of the many visitors to the capital of New England. And the bad luck of those who had tried such ventures before was enough to keep any one person from taking on a work of so much labor, cost, and risk.

1. A large Boston building with public rooms, finished in 1809. It burned to the ground in 1818 and was never rebuilt.

Two Parlours, prepared for the reception of visiters on their arrival at the establishment, and called Receiving-rooms, the Office or Counting-room of the house, and the Porter's room, adjoin and open upon the Rotunda. Two halls conduct from it to the north and south wings, and a third passage-way leads to a Piazza, which overlooks the court-yard.

Two parlors, made ready to receive visitors when they arrive and called receiving rooms, open onto the rotunda.2 So do the office, or counting room, of the house and the porter's room. Two halls lead from the rotunda to the north and south wings. A third passage leads to a piazza,3 which overlooks the courtyard.

2. The round entrance hall at the top of the front steps, twenty feet across, with a domed ceiling and a stained-glass skylight.
3. In New England at this time, a covered porch or veranda along the side of a building.

The Office is divided into two parts by a counter, upon which rest two columns and two pilasters or antas. The entablature, that surmounts these columns, incloses a set of boxes, which extend round the interior division of this room, and contain the bells of all the apartments. The bells are similar in form to clock bells, and are struck by hammers. A label attached to each indicates by its vibration the number of the room where the bell is rung. This ingenious disposition of these necessary and noisy incumbrances of large establishments, is the invention of Seth Fuller, to whom it is patented. Among the advantages it has over the common method of hanging bells, are its compactness and comparative stillness. The principle and application of the contrivance may be distinctly understood by an inspection of Plate XXXI.

The office is divided into two parts by a counter, on which stand two columns and two pilasters, or antae.4 The band of molding above these columns encloses a set of boxes. They run around the inner part of this room and hold the bells of all the rooms. The bells are shaped like clock bells and are struck by hammers. A label attached to each one shakes to show the number of the room where the bell is rung.5 This clever way of arranging these necessary and noisy burdens of large houses is the invention of Seth Fuller, who holds the patent for it. Its advantages over the common way of hanging bells are that it is compact and fairly quiet. How the device works can be seen clearly in Plate XXXI.6

4. Flat columns set against a wall, in the style of Greek temples.
5. A guest pulled the bell-pull in the room. A wire carried the pull down to the office and set the hammer striking that room's bell.
6. The last of the book's 31 plates, with drawings of the bell boxes.

The Office communicates by sliding doors with the public Dining-room, the principal entrance to which is by two pairs of folding doors opening into the hall which leads from the Rotunda.

The office connects by sliding doors with the public dining room. The main entrance to the dining room is by two pairs of folding doors, opening into the hall that leads from the rotunda.

The Dining-room is seventy-three feet long, thirty-one feet wide, and about fifteen feet high. It is lighted by six windows on Beacon Street, and two, which serve also for doors, opening on the Piazza, that surrounds the court-yard. Fourteen Ionic columns and four antae inclose the part of this room occupied by dining-tables, a space of sixty feet by twenty.

The dining room is seventy-three feet long, thirty-one feet wide, and about fifteen feet high. It is lit by six windows on Beacon Street, and by two more that also serve as doors, opening on the piazza that surrounds the courtyard. Fourteen Ionic columns7 and four antae enclose the part of the room taken up by dining tables, a space of sixty feet by twenty.

7. Columns in one of the Greek styles, with scroll-shaped tops.

The Dining-room is warmed by two open fireplaces, and by an air-furnace, which is placed behind the fireplace of the kitchen, and is heated by the fire used for cooking.

The dining room is warmed by two open fireplaces and by a hot-air furnace. The furnace is placed behind the kitchen fireplace and is heated by the fire used for cooking.

The proportions of this room, and the style of architecture in which it is finished, have been much admired. As the largest and most public apartment of the house, it was considered deserving of the most elaborate decoration; and though the use to which it is devoted be not of a dignified or elevated cast, there seems at least no impropriety in surrounding its occupants with cheerful and tasteful objects.

The proportions of this room, and the style of architecture in which it is finished, have been much admired. As the largest and most public room of the house, it was thought to deserve the richest decoration. Eating may not be a dignified or lofty use for a room. But there seems at least nothing improper in surrounding the diners with cheerful and tasteful things.

Next to the Dining-room, in the hall leading from the Rotunda, is one of the principal staircases; and adjoining this, at the northeast corner of the house, is a large and well lighted apartment, used as a Reading-room. It is supplied with the principal periodical publications of the United States, with many interesting foreign journals, and a variety of maps, plans of cities, &c. The use of this room by strangers who reside in the establishment is gratuitous; a small annual subscription entitles any other person to its privileges.

Next to the dining room, in the hall leading from the rotunda, is one of the main staircases. Next to this, at the northeast corner of the house, is a large and well-lit room, used as a reading room. It is supplied with the main magazines and newspapers of the United States, with many interesting foreign journals, and with a variety of maps, city plans, and so on. Visitors who are staying in the hotel may use this room for free. Anyone else may use it by paying a small yearly fee.